AbeBooks Reviews
AbeBooks has an overall rating of 3.3 based on 496 reviews. Customer feedback on AbeBooks is mixed: AbeBooks reviewers highlight positive aspects like wide selection of books, competitive prices, user-friendly interface and excellent customer service, which strongly appeal to book collectors, students, and casual readers. However, AbeBooks is often criticized for its shipping delays, occasional book condition discrepancies, limited seller communication and higher fees for sellers.
496 reviews
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How would you rate AbeBooks?
All AbeBooks Reviews (496)
JamesTribley_16
June 02, 2026
"The seller got back to me quickly..."
The seller got back to me quickly, which I always appreciate, and they kept me updated on the shipping the whole time. The book did arrive a little later than I was hoping for, but that happens. Overall, it was a smooth enough experience and I’d be fine buying from them again.
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hello_james541
May 23, 2026
"Customer service took a long time"
I reached out to customer service and the replies came way too late. I was waiting for a answer longer than I expected, and by the time they got back to me, it was already frustrating
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meganjohnson1671
May 21, 2026
"I ordered two used books to Germany..."
I ordered two used books to Germany, and they both got here fine. The tracking didn’t really update consistently, so I wasn’t totally sure what was going on, but the package arrived in good condition. It did take a bit longer than I expected. Based on this one order, at least, it seems reliable.
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hello_michael571
May 18, 2026
"Used book was just as described"
I ordered a used book and was a little worried I’d end up wasting money on something in worse shape than expected, but it arrived exactly as listed. No unpleasant surprises at all. The pages and cover matched the description really well, which I appreciated. I’d definitely use AbeBooks again.
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Arthur_robinson97
May 18, 2026
"I paid for my book and..."
I paid for my book and, it was all smooth. Like, there weren’t any weird issues or anything during checkout, and it felt secure enough while I was putting in my card details. I got the confirmation right away too, so yeah, no complaints there.
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cedric-Raines
May 14, 2026
"Checking out was kind of annoying. It took..."
Checking out was kind of annoying. It took me a few tries to get the payment to go through, and some of the pages loaded slowly or weren’t super clear. I know sites always say stuff like “seamless checkout” or whatever, but it definitely didn’t feel that way. Not a total disaster, but it could be smoother
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rose_Moyer84
May 11, 2026
"My package ended up getting lost, i didn’t..."
My package ended up getting lost, i didn’t get much help trying to sort it out. It was frustrating because I just wanted a clear answer or some kind of update
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kelly.Zable
May 10, 2026
"Seller checks feel like a joke"
I mean, this was frustrating. The seller sent me the wrong book, and when I tried to get help, there really wasn’t much support at all. So, yeah, not a great experience.
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John_casillas71
April 26, 2026
"Exactly as described :)"
The book was listed as being in very good condition, and that’s exactly what arrived. Super happy with it!
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PhyllisBarajas
April 26, 2026
"Canceling made me nervous, but it worked out"
I had to cancel my order after I realized I’d picked the wrong edition. i was a little worried I was going to get the runaround or be stuck paying for something I couldn’t use, but the seller confirmed the cancellation quickly. The refund showed up a few days later, so that was a relief. I do think one clearer update would’ve helped me feel less unsure, but overall it was handled fine.
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hello_amy728
April 13, 2026
"Easy to keep track of my orders"
Umm, the account page is straightforward, and I can check on my orders without any hassle. One update email showed up a bit late, but everything else was fine
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hello_james561
April 01, 2026
"Finally got the exact ISBN"
The right edition showed up, which was a relief. I wasn’t super worried, but I also kind of expected something to be off, so it was nice having no weird surprises. Boring purchase, but in the best possible way.
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charles1997
March 10, 2026
"The book arrived with the cover..."
The book arrived with the cover bent and the spine already cracked, which was disappointing. The packaging was really thin too, so I wasn’t too shocked that it got banged up during shipping.
I reached out to AbeBooks, but it took longer than I expected to get a clear response. They ended up telling me to work it out with the seller, which just dragged the whole thing out. Anyway... I did eventually get a partial refund, but it felt like way more hassle than it needed to be.
I reached out to AbeBooks, but it took longer than I expected to get a clear response. They ended up telling me to work it out with the seller, which just dragged the whole thing out. Anyway... I did eventually get a partial refund, but it felt like way more hassle than it needed to be.
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mario1990
March 07, 2026
"Great selection, but the site is a chore"
I’ve got mixed feelings about AbeBooks because the selection is really good, and I like that I can find books there that aren’t always easy to track down elsewhere. At the same time, actually using the site kind of tests my patience.
The search results can feel all over the place, and the filters help a little, but also somehow don’t narrow things down the way I expect. I’ll click into a listing, go back, and sometimes it feels like I’ve lost where I was. It works, but it also feels clunky and dated, especially on my phone.
I did eventually find the book I wanted, so I can’t say the site is useless or anything. But it took longer than it should have, and I kept thinking the whole thing would be so much better with a cleaner layout and smoother browsing.
The search results can feel all over the place, and the filters help a little, but also somehow don’t narrow things down the way I expect. I’ll click into a listing, go back, and sometimes it feels like I’ve lost where I was. It works, but it also feels clunky and dated, especially on my phone.
I did eventually find the book I wanted, so I can’t say the site is useless or anything. But it took longer than it should have, and I kept thinking the whole thing would be so much better with a cleaner layout and smoother browsing.
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MatildaSanchez_20
March 05, 2026
"I usually end up on AbeBooks when..."
I usually end up on AbeBooks when I’ve already struck out at local bookstores and the usual online places. To be fair, their selection is solid, especially if you’re hunting for older used books or random titles nobody else seems to have. But oh my gosh, why does it let me click on a listing just to find out it’s already gone? That part drives me a little nuts. Still, most of the time I do manage to find what I’m looking for, so I can’t complain too much. 4 stars.
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evelynmarks6095
March 02, 2026
"The shipping cost ended up being fair..."
The shipping cost ended up being fair and there weren’t any surprise charges, which I appreciated. I just wish I didn’t have to put in as much effort checking everything before placing the order.
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MARCIAL
February 23, 2026
"Those so-called filters don’t do much"
I tried using the search filters, but they’re pretty much useless. I set what I want, and then the results still show a bunch of random stuff that doesn’t match. Not sure what that little filter gimmick is supposed to be doing
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BobbyFrench_43
February 19, 2026
"Good packaging, but a little on the basic side"
I ordered a used book from abebooks, and overall it showed up in good condition. From my perspective, that’s really the main thing with used books, especially when you’re not expecting anything fancy.
The packaging was decent enough, just a padded mailer, but there wasn’t any major damage and the corners weren’t bent up. I was a little nervous because it was an older paperback, so I was relieved when it arrived looking fine.
I do think they could add a bit more protection if the book is collectible or more delicate, but for a regular order like mine, it did the job. Not perfect, but I’d still call it a solid 4-star experience.
The packaging was decent enough, just a padded mailer, but there wasn’t any major damage and the corners weren’t bent up. I was a little nervous because it was an older paperback, so I was relieved when it arrived looking fine.
I do think they could add a bit more protection if the book is collectible or more delicate, but for a regular order like mine, it did the job. Not perfect, but I’d still call it a solid 4-star experience.
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nicole_Brooks81
February 19, 2026
"I ordered a book that apparently wasn’t available..."
I ordered a book that apparently wasn’t available after all, so I ended up asking for a refund. To be fair, they did give me my money back, but it took longer than I was expecting, which was a bit frustrating. Customer service was polite enough when they replied, just not exactly quick. Overall, it wasn’t a terrible experience, but the refund process could definitely be faster.
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hello_emily010
February 16, 2026
"I ordered a used book from AbeBooks..."
I ordered a used book from AbeBooks and the delivery estimate ended up being close. It arrived one day after the earliest date they showed, but still within the overall delivery window, so no real issue there. The packaging was fine and the book got to me in good shape. i was just happy to find a cheaper copy of a book I’d been meaning to read, so that felt like a small win. Not a perfect experience, but I’d order from them again.
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AbeBooks Q&A
Hi i want to ask if the abebooks is reliable and trusted because when it asks about card details they didn't ask about security code of the card
LilyEllis
April 15, 2020
“Inferior quality, and "their" new - wasn't. It had a previous owners name label on the inside front cover. It was also a from a book club. Book club books mostly have inferior paper and binding.”
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I am finding the best deals for my books on abebooks, but many of the reviews are less then stellar. i am concerned due to textbook costs. recommend?
DustinMills
March 30, 2020
“Avoid this business if you can. I had been told by a Professor that they were a good site to purchase from - NOT! The "Bookseller" keeps changing the shipping date after first denying they even had an order for me from Abe's. Not worth the couple of dollars you MIGHT save.”
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I am reading bad reviews and thinking twice. why are books not being delivered?
smallladybug792
September 02, 2019
“Bc they are a fraud! I am trying to have them investigated! You order your books, they tell you after they take your money, that they don't have the book. Then when you request a refund or call, you get the run around. Finally, you waste tome and energy, no refund! Don't do it!!”
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That company is fraud, they charge the credit cards right away, but take forever to send the books, if they do, and never return the money
angrygoose231
April 13, 2019
“same thing here. stay away!! same state that is ok with live birth abortions of live baby! THATS MURDER TO ME!!”
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Is it a real site? can i order books by using my detail credit card?
Juan.Palmer
March 26, 2019
“Yes, it is a real site. I have bought many books from them. The books are all used books , old books, and out of print books, so it is good for finding old books. Yes, you can pay by card, I have done it many times with abebooks.”
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